Method and apparatus for cutting plugs from carpets

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for repairing carpets and similar materials wherein a segment of the damaged carpet to be replaced is anchored in place and held stationary, a cutter is then rotated about the outer periphery of said anchored damaged segment and simultaneously urged through the carpet along the longitudinal axis of the cutter cutting said carpet about the periphery of the anchored segment.

United States Patent [191 Qrain, Jr.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING PLUGS FROM CARPETS Inventor: Millard Crain, Jr., San Jose, Calif.

Filed: Sept. 2, 1971 Appl. No.: 177,374

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 11,274, Feb. abandoned.

US. Cl 83/13, 30/130, 30/316 Int. Cl 326d 1/00, B26b 3/00 Field of Search 83/663, 664, 665,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1965 Poppenga 30/130 PADD/A/G UNDER- LA YME/W Oct. 16, 1973 2,615,246 10/1952 Littig 30/316 3,062,299 11/1962 Koeptinger 30/316 3,456,346 7/1969 408/86 210,778 12/1878 l-larris..... 408/96 X Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-Leon Gilden Attorney-Jack M. Wiseman 57 ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for repairing carpets and similar materials wherein a segment of the damaged carpet to be replaced is anchored in place and held stationary, a cutter is then rotated about the outer periphery of said anchored damaged segment and simultaneously urged through the carpet along the longitudinal axis of the cutter cutting said carpet about the periphery of the anchored segment.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures P/LE ' HE/GHT MA TER/A L METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING PLUGS FROM CARPETS RELATED APPLICATION This application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 11,274 now abandoned, filed Feb. I3, 1970, by Millard Crain, Jr. for Method Of And Apparatus For Cutting Plugs From Carpets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to methods and apparatus for mending carpets or the like. It is common for isolated segments of carpets within offices, homes, et cetera to become burned or stained thereby making it desirable to replace said segments. Various approaches have been taken, one of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,171,200, granted to R. J. Poppenga on Mar. 2, 1965. The patented approach relates to anchoring a segment of the carpet and establishing a circular cutting blade of desired diameter on a support structure. The structure is then dealt a blow. As a consequence thereof, the cutting blade becomes dull prematurely. It appears that unless one is skilled in using the apparatus disclosed in the prior art, the carpet would have a tendency due to the resiliency of the carpet and underlayment to bunch-up about the cutting edge and an imperfectcircle would aften result. Accordingly, it becomes relatively difficultto remove and replace a carpet segment employing prior art apparatus. Skilled, experienced persons were needed to perform the task.

Cutting tools or coring devices with serrated edges are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,564,451 and 2,683,312.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention teaches a method and apparatus for removing segments of carpets or the like. The individual performing the operation need not be experienced and skilled in any particular way. The segment of the damaged carpet to be removed is anchored in place. An annular cutting blade is then rotated about the anchor. The rotation may be imparted through the hand of an individual in a twisting motion of clockwise direction and counterclockwise direction. The blade of the present invention retains its sharp cutting edge over an extended period of time.

Exemplary apparatus for practicing the present invention may include an anchor with carpet engaging pins protruding therefrom. An annular cutting blade disposed coaxially with the anchor is supported for rotation about the periphery of the anchor such that the anchor remains static during the rotary cutting action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention when in use and illustrated with a diagrammatic view of a carpet flooring section;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken along the line 2-2; and

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawings depict an apparatus, referred to by the general reference character 10, and incorporating the teachings of the present invention. The apparatus 10 I includes a cylindrical housing 12. Fixed to the upper portion of the housing 12 is a handle in the form of a diametrically disposed handlebar l4. Passing through the center of the handlebar l4 and coaxial with the housing 12 as well as the handle bar 14 is a rotatable shaft 16 with a hexogonally shaped head 18. The handlebar 14-is formed with a recess 17 adapted to receive the head 18. Thus, the shaft 16 forms a guide along which the handlebar 14 along with the housing 12 is slideable in the axial direction.

The opposite end of the shaft 16 is threaded in engagement with a circular disc 20 carrying a set of carpet engaging pins 22, which in the preferred embodiment are four. The pins 22 protrude from the disc 20 at equal radial distances from the axis of rotation of the shaft 16 to engage and impale the textured face of the damaged carpet segment. The disc 20 is disposed coaxial with the housing 12 and the shaft 16. About the shaft 16, intermediate the disc 20 and the handlebar 14, is a helical coil bias spring 24. The bias of the spring 24 through its compressive action continuously urges the disc 20 away from the handlebar l4 and the housing 12 in the axial direction and into continuous engagement with the portion of the carpet impaled by the carpet engaging pins 22. The carpet engaging pins 22 impale the damaged carpet to be cut to the underlayment padding and hold it stationary during the cutting operation.

Fixed to the lower edge of the housing 12 is an annular or cylindrical cutting blade 26 having a wavy cutting edge 28 with a plurality of concave cutting edges. In the preferred embodiment, each concave cutting edge is 1/2 inch between peaks. The blade 26 is secured to the housing 12 in fixed relation and is coaxial with the disc 20, the housing 12 and the shaft 16. Near the upper portion of the housing 12 and about the handlebar 14 is a coating 30 of a resilient plastic material adapted to provide frictional contact between the apparatus 10 and the hand of an individual to reduce slippage.

According to the present invention, to remove a plug or segment of a carpet 32, the apparatus 10 is centered over the damaged segment of the carpet to be removed with the disc 20 facing the carpets topmost face yarns. The stabilizing carpet engaging pins 21 penetrate through the face yarns and down through the carpets pile height and the backing material of the carpet under a downward force manually applied to the handlebar 14 which is transmitted to the disc 20 through the spring 24. In this manner, the plug to be cut is pinned to the padding underlayment. The pins 21 hold the carpet segmentto be removed stationary and also hold the disc 20 stationary or static to stabilize the apparatus 10. The operator then grasps the housing 12 about the coating material 30 and/or the handlebar 14 rotating the housing 12 about the shaft 16 and simultaneously applying force in an axial direction toward the carpeting such that the blade edge 28 cuts the carpeting about the periphery of the disc 20. Once the cut is complete, the individual releases the force applied to the housing 12 and the entire apparatus 10 may then be raised. The pins 22 retain the plug or severed segment adjacent the disc. A new piece of matching carpet may then be cut by the same apparatus 10 and inserted in the void spot.

Accordingly, there is herein disclosed a method for removing a segment of a carpeting in a simplified manner and adapted to be performed by a compact apparatus. The entire operation may be conducted by one hand with a tool of a relatively small size.

I claim:

1. A method of severing and removing segments of carpeting, comprising the steps of:

pluralized impaling by carpet engaging pins a desired segment of carpeting to be severed;

anchoring the desired segment of carpeting in a stationary position by said impaling; and

cutting said carpeting about the periphery of the impaled anchored segment by rotating a cutting blade about said periphery while the desired segment remains stationary.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the desired segment is cylindrical and said blade is an annular blade coaxial with the segment.

3. The method of claim 2 in which said cutting blade is rotated while simultaneously applying an axial anchoring force to said segment.

4. A method of severing and removing a plug of carpeting, comprising the steps of:

counterclockwise direction. 

1. A method of severing and removing segments of carpeting, comprising the steps of: pluralized impaling by carpet engaging pins a desired segment of carpeting to be severed; anchoring the desired segment of carpeting in a stationary position by said impaling; and cutting said carpeting about the periphery of the impaled anchored segment by rotating a cutting blade about said periphery while tHe desired segment remains stationary.
 2. The method of claim 1 in which the desired segment is cylindrical and said blade is an annular blade coaxial with the segment.
 3. The method of claim 2 in which said cutting blade is rotated while simultaneously applying an axial anchoring force to said segment.
 4. A method of severing and removing a plug of carpeting, comprising the steps of: pluralized impaling by carpet engaging pins the plug to be severed and removed from the carpeting; holding the plug stationary by said impaling of the plug; and rotating a cutting blade to sever the plug while said plug is held stationary.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cutting blade is rotated about an axis while an axial force is applied to hold said plug stationary.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said rotating of the cutting blade is in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. 